Locking device for follower-blocks.



G. J. LUNDSTROM.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL J. LUNDSTROM, 01: LITTLE FALLS, NEW YORK.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR FOLLOWER-BLOCKS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL J. LUNDSTROM, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Little Falls, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices for Follower-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locking devices for follower blocks usually employed in filing cases.

In filing cases now in general use, there is more or less difliculty experienced in operating the follower block against the action of its locking means, and the locking means employed for the follower blocks are not always readily operated by the operator of the filing case.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a filing cabinet for vertical filing jackets or cards or the like, provided with a follower block capable of. being readily adjusted and one which will positively retain its adjusted position whereby it will perform the function required of it without unnecessary labor or inconvenience on the part of the person using the cabinet.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a follower block for the purpose stated embodying such characteristics that its locking means will be reinforced by other means to prevent accidental movement of the follower block away from the cards, files or other articles against which the follower block has been adjusted to hold the former in Vertical position.

With the above and other objects in View, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of one compartment of a filing cabinet, the parts being broken away to illustrate the interior of the same. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the compartment in the rear of the follower block, showing the locking means in locked condition. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the follower block and its locking Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 31, 1908.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

Serial No. 470,269.

means including the guide rod with the follower block in locked position upon the guide rod. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the follower block in position to be moved upon its guide rod. Fig. 5 is a sec tional view of the compartment illustrating the locking means in its unlocked condition.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawin s, the reference character 1 indicates the front of the compartment, 2 the rear, 3 the sides, and 4 the bottom thereof, the bottom being preferably formed of two spaced strips, as shown.

Mounted longitudinally of the compartment is a guide rod 5 which is preferably disposed midway between the parts .ll of the bottom of the compartment to serve as a guiding means for the slidable follower block 6, which latter may be of any desired form and which has at its lower end a transverse strip 7 This strip 7 may be separate from the follower 6 or it may be formed integrally therewith, as may be preferred, and as will be obvious without additional illustration. In any event, the block is preferably disposed upon a rearwardly directed incline and has at its front end a recess 8 adapted to receive the upper substantially vertical portion 9 of a plate, whose lower end is directed forwardly of the follower, as indicated at 10, and provided with a perforation '11 adapted 'to embrace the guide rod 5. This plate which is comprised of the parts 9 and 10 is preferably secured to the follower by means of a screw or other suitable fastening 12, and by virtue of the rearward inclination of the follower 6 and forwardly directed part 10 of said plate, the opening 11 in the latter normally binds upon the guide rod 5 to hold the follower in fairly tight engagement with the guide rod, the under-face of the strip 7 being inclined at 13 to permit of the performance of this function of said plate.

The rear face of the portion 7 of the follower is substantially vertical and has secured thereto by means of a screw or other suitable fastening 14 a plate 15, which latter projects beyond the underface 13 of the portion 7 with its said projecting part provided with a short slot 16 adapted to embrace the guide rod 5. This slot 16 of the plate 15 cooperates with the perforation 11 in the aforesaid plate 9-l0 to aid in guiding the follower upon the guide rod 5.

Secured to the plate 15 by means of a screw or other suitable whose bill 19 is adapted to bind tightly against the guide rod 5 when in operative position to positively lock the follower against movement from its adjusted position. It will be seen that the hook 18 draws the follower 6 downwardly when in operative position to cause the upper end of the slot 16 to bind tightly upon the upper surface of the guide rod. When the locking lever 18 is in inoperative position, the follower 6 may be moved slightly forwardly at its upper end to permit the lower end of said slot 16 to be brought substantially into engagement with the guide rod 5. The locking lever 18 is preferably provided with a wing 20 to facilitate its operation, and reference to the drawings will disclose that the pivot 17 passes through the plate 15 and into the portion 7 of the follower, whereby the fastening 14 of the plate 15 is reinforced.

In practice, and assuming that the follower is in its locked position upon the guide rod 5, as shown in Fig. 3, and it is desired to shift the follower toward the rear of the compartment, the operator moves the lock ing lever 18 upon its pivot 17 to throw the bill 19 of the lever out of engagement with the guide rod 5. The follower may then be freely moved rearwardly of the compartment by grasping the upper end thereof to tilt it slightly forwardly, which will cause the lower portion 10 of the plate at the lower forward end of the follower to assume a position substantially at right angles to the guide rod 5 which releases the binding action of the plate 910 with respect to the guide rod and permits the follower 6 to be conveniently and easily moved rearwardly. The same operation is necessary to move the follower forwardly, as will be understood, and after the follower has been moved to its adjusted position, if it is desired to lock the same, it is simply necessary to operate the= lever 18 to shift it into binding engagement with the guide rod 5, it being understood that just as soon as the operator releases the upper end of the follower 6, it assumes its normal rearwardly inclined position by gravity. It will thus be seen that by virtue of the follower assuming its normal position as soon as released, the plate 910 is thrown into binding engagement with the rod 5, in view of which, the locking lever 18 is reinforced in its locking operation, because the follower consequently has a binding action upon the rod 5 at its forward lower end and also at its rearward lower end, that is, at the rear of the portion 7 thereof.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In a filing cabinet, a compartment, a guide rod in the compartment, a follower provided at its lower front portion with an pivot 17 is a hook 18,

annular guide-bearing for the rod, said guide bearing being adapted to form a binding engagement with the rod when the fol lower block is tilted rearwardly, a vertical guide bearing'for the rod located at the rear portion of the follower, a hook or lock, adapted to hold the follower in a binding position, substantially as described.

2. In a filing cabinet, a compartment, a guide rod in the compartment, a follower provided at its lower front portion with a recess, a plate fitted in said recess and having its lower end projecting beneath the fol lower with its projecting portion at an angle to its remaining port-ion and provided in its projecting portion with a perforation to embrace the guide rod, a second plate secured in the rear of the follower and having a projecting portion provided with a slot to embrace the guide rod, and a lockingelement constructed and arranged for binding engagement with the guide rod to lock the follower against movement upon the rod.

3. In a filing cabinet, a compartment, guide rod in the compartment, a follower provided at its lower front portion with a recess, a plate fitted in said recess and having its lower end projecting beneath the follower with its projecting portion at an angle to its remaining portion and provided in its projecting portion with a perforation to embrace the guide rod, a second plate secured in the rear of the follower and having a projecting portion provided with a slot to embrace theguide rod, and a lever pivotally carried by the follower and adapted to be thrown into operative engagement with the guide rod to lock the follower against movement upon'the latter.

4:. In a filing cabinet, a compartment,a guide rod in the compartment, a follower adjustably and slidably mounted upon the guide rod and being disposed normally in a rearwardly inclined plane, a plate secured to the lower end of the follower and provided with a perforation embracing the guide rod and effecting a binding action upon the guide rod when the follower is in its normal inclined plane, a second plate carried by the follower and provided with a slot to embrace the guide rod and to permit of a forward tilting movement of the follower to release the binding action of the aforesaid plate with the guide rod and permit of a free sliding movement of the follower upon the rod, and means constructed and ar ranged to lock the follower against tilting or slidable movement.

5. In a filing cabinet, a compartment, a guide rod in the compartment,a follower adjustably and slidably mounted upon the guide rod and being disposed normally in a rearwardly inclined plane, a plate secured to the lower end of the follower and provided with a perforation embracing the guide rod and efiecting a binding action upon the guide rod when the follower is in its normal inclined plane, a second plate carried by the follower and provided with a slot to embrace the guide rod and to permit of a forward tilting movement of the follower to release the binding action of the aforesaid plate with the guide rod and permit of a free sliding movement of the follower upon the rod, and a lever carried by the follower for engagement with the guiding rod to lock the follower against tilting or slidable movement upon said rod.

6. In a filing cabinet, at compartment, a guide rod in the compartment, a follower provided with a rearwardly directed portion at its lower end whose under-face is inclined and whereby the follower may assume a normal rearwardly inclined position, a plate secured to the follower and Provided with a perforation to embrace said rod, and to have binding engagement with the latter when the follower is in its normal position, a second plate secured to the rearwardly directed portion of the follower and provided with a slot to embrace said rod whereby the follower may be tilted forwardly to release the binding engagement of the first mentioned plate with the rod and permit of a slidable movement of the follower upon the rod, and means constructed and arranged to lock the follower against tilting and sliding movement upon the rod.

7. In a filing cabinet, at compartment, a guide rod in the compartment, a follower provided with a rearwardly directed portion at its lower end whose under-face is inclined and whereby the follower may assume a normal rearwardly inclined position, a plate secured to the follower and provided with a perforation to embrace said rod, and to have binding engagement with the latter when the follower is in its normal position, a second plate secured to the rearwardly directed portion of the follower and provided with a slot to embrace said rod, whereby the follower may be tilted forwardly to release the binding engagement of the first mentioned plate with the rod and permit of a slidable movement of the follower rod, and a lever pivotally mounted upon the rearwardly directed portion of the follower and provi ed with a bill for engagement with the guide rod to lock the follower againsttilting or slidable movement upon said rod. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CARL J. LUNDSTROM. \Vitnesses:

HENRY CHENEY,

ALBERT B. LADEAN. 

